I’ve always wondered why vinyl sounds more open, airy and transparent in the mid range. And of cd’s and most digital sounds quieter and yet lifeless than compared with vinyl.
Most studios record fully digital nowadays. When streamed lossless via Tidal or Qubuz you get this source straight to your DAC. Assuming it’s a capable DAC you get the best representation possible.
To make a vinyl, there are countless extra steps:
- audio compression and RIAA to limit the low frequency groove amplitude.
- mechanical process of cutting the master disk
- chemical / mechanical process of pressing a disk
- wear and tear of the (master) disk
- added wow and flutter of the turntable
- mechanical / electrical process of pick up element
- Reverse RIAA correction and pre amplification of pick up voltage
And now all of a sudden it sounds more open, airy, and transparent?